Watch with an adjustable time interval hand

ABSTRACT

In a watch, a time interval hand is mounted on a shaft with the minute and hour hands and it is axially displaceable on the shaft between a first position interconnected to the minute and hour hands and a second position where it is released from its interconnection and can be manually rotated about the shaft. An annular legend-bearing disc is provided about the watch dial for use with the time interval hand. A locking member is provided to hold the time interval hand in the first position, however, when it is moved to an unlocked position, a spring associated with the time interval hand automatically displaces it to the second position.

United States Patent 91 Jung 7 [451 Feb. 11,1975

1 1 WATCH WITH AN ADJUSTABLE TIME INTERVAL IIAND [76] Inventor: BothoJung, Gruneburgw'eg 140,

D-6000 Frankfurt (Main), Germany [22] Filed: May 6, 1974 [21] Appl. No.:467,475

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data May 8, 1973 Germany 172277[U][52] US. Cl. 58/22.9 [51] Int. Cl. G04f 3/02 [58] Field of Search58/229, 39.5, 74, 85.5

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,919,255 7/1933 Porter58/22.9 1,919,256 7/1933 'Porter 58/229 2,344,853 3/1944 De Haes 58/2292,973,659 3/1961 Gallagher et a1. 58/229 X 3,431,720 3/1969 Ehner et al.58/229 3,534,545 10/1970 Oster et a1. 58/229 X R22,570 Y 11/1944 Lux58/229 Primary Examiner-George H. M iller, Jr. Attorney, Agent, orFirm-Toren, McGeady and Stanger [57] ABSTRACT In a watch, a timeinterval hand is mounted on a shaft with the minute and hour hands andit is axially displaceable on the shaft between a first positioninterconnected to the minute and hour hands and a second position whereit is released from its interconnection and can be manually rotatedabout the shaft. An annular legend-bearing disc is provided about thewatch dial for use with the time interval hand. A locking member isprovided to hold the time interval hand in the first position, however,when it is moved to an unlocked position, a spring associated with thetime interval hand automatically displaces it to the second I position.

10 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PAT-M ami 1 1925 SHEET 2 OF 2 .FlG.2

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a watch with amanually settable time interval hand and an interchangeablelegend-bearing disc associated with the watch dial, and, moreparticularly, it concerns an arrangement for selectively locking andreleasing the time interval hand.

Devices having a manually settable time interval hand are known in theart. In general they consist of a watch movement, and a dial, scale, ordisc bearing a wide range of legends. The time interval hand is attachedto a shaft which has a knob or a reinforcement at its end projectingoutwardly from the dial or the legend-bearing disc, by means of whichthe time interval hand can be rotated counterclockwise. As a result ofsuch rotation, while the time interval hand traverses the period of timefor which it is set, the watch movement is wound. With such a watch itis not possible to tell the time of day, making it always necessary tohave a second watch for that purpose.

It has also been proposed to provide a watch with a separate timeinterval hand. In such an arrangement, a small disc with hour and minutehands is eccentrically mounted on a relatively large disc in such a waythat its edge is situated outside the center of the disc. Through thecenter of the disc, there has been placed a separate shaft for the timeinterval hand which is provided with its own train of wheels. The timeinterval hand is wound by a counterclockwise motion. Such a device ishard to read as well as being costly because of the separate train ofwheels, as a result it was not successful on the market and due tosubsequent developments it was abandoned.

Therefore, it is the primary object of the present in- I vention toprovide a watch having a manually settable time interval hand, whichpermits reading of the time of day as well as to set a period of timefor performing a time-dependent operation. Such a watch is easy to read,is designed very simply with a standard watch movement withoutanadditional train of wheels and permits the use of any legend-bearingdisc in addition to the dial.

In accordance with the present invention, the disadvantages previouslyexperienced are overcome by means of a watch having a manually settabletime interval hand, which is characterized by the fact that the timeinterval hand is arranged above the minute and second hands on the sameshaft, it is positively connected with the shaft in its working positionby meshed engagement with a time interval wheel, it runs synchronouslywith the minute and second hands, and it is axially displaceable over ashort, limited distance from its working position on the shaft and, whennot in operation, it can be freely rotated around the axis of the shaft.

The various features of novelty which characterize the invention arepointed with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a partof this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, itsoperating advantages and specific objects attained by its use, referenceshould be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter inwhich there is illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of theinvention.

, 2 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE-DRAWING FIG. 1 is a view of a watch faceembodying the present invention; 1

FIG. 2 is a view, partially broken away, of a train of wheels for thewatch in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view along line FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION IIIIII of In FIG. 1 a standarddial 1 is illustrated with a minute hand 3 and an hour hand 4 positionedon a shaft 5. Above these two hands, a time interval hand 2 is alsoarranged on the shaft 5. In its working position, the time interval hand2 is positively connected with the shaft 5. In that position, the timeinterval hand 2 meshes with a wheel, not shown in FIG. 1, and rotatessynchronously with the minute hand 3 and'the hour hand 4 of the watch.

In order to move the time interval hand 2 out of its working positionwhen not in use, it is axially displaceable over a short, limiteddistance along the shaft 5. A wide range of constructions of this typeare known-and may be used for the purpose of solving the object at hand.To permit proper control of the time interval hand 2, for the purpose ofmoving and setting it, a knob or enlargement 6 is provided at the outerend of an inner shaft section 5" mounted within the shaft 5, note FIG.3. The minute hand 3 and the hour hand 4 remain, of course, unaffectedby the axial displacement of the time interval hand 2.

The time interval hand 2 can also be designed to be automaticallydisengageable, with disengagement occurring at a zero position. For thispurpose, too, known arrangements are available.

Moreover, a signal transmitter of any known design can be arranged inthe final position or in intermediate positions of the time intervalhand so that optical and- /or acoustical signals indicate the expirationof the setv period or the expiration of a set intermediary period.

An exemplified embodiment of the design of the train of wheels for thewatch in accordance with the invention is illustrated schematicallyandpartially broken away in FIG. 2 and 3. In this arrangement, the shaft5 of the hands is formed out of three concentric hollow shafts 5, 5",and 5", of which the outer hollow shaft 5' carries the hour hand 4, themiddle hollow shaft 5" the minute hand 3, and the inner hollo'w shaft 5"the time interval hand 2. The inner hollow shaft 5" is axiallydisplaceably and pivotably fitted onto a bearing bolt 9 mounted to themovement casing 8 and terminates in a flange 10 on which a Z-shapedspring 11 is mounted, note FIG. 2. This spring 11 engages a sawtoothring 13 with its bent ends 12 in the manner of a ratchet if thecomponents are in the working position illustrated in FIG. 3. In thisexample the sawtooth ring 13 forms the time interval wheel and ismounted concentrically on the minute gear wheel 14, which is attached tothe middle hollow shaft 5" in a manner to be explained below and whichmates with a driving pinion 15. The driving pinion 15 is mounted to thedrive shaft 16 of the watch movement, not shown in further detail, whichcan be of any known design and, preferably, uses a battery as a powersource.

In the working position illustrated in FIG. 3, the minute gear wheel 14carries the time interval hand 2 along via the sawtooth ring 13 and thespring 11 so that the the same angular speed in the same directionofrotation. Inserted between the minute hand gear wheel 14 and the flangeis a pressure helical spring 17 causing, in the zero position of thetime interval hand 2, an automatic disengagement of the spring 11 fromthe sawtooth ring 13. In that event, a locking member 18 mounted to theflange 10 and maintaining in working position the positive connectionbetween the spring 11 and the sawtooth ring 13, enters a depression 19(FIG. 2) as a result of which the spring 17 axially displaces the innerhollow shaft 5" and the time interval hand 2 over a short distance sothat the hand 2 is arrested in its zero position. Positioned on theouter end of the shaft 5 is a setting knob 6, shown in FIG. 3, which istwist-resistantly affixed onto the inner hollow shaft 5". In thedisengaged rest position, the time interval hand 2 can be freely rotatedby means of the setting knob 6, however, in the embodiment illustratedthis is not possible'on account of the described engagement of thelocking member 18 in the recess 19. In its working position, however,the time interval hand 2 can be rotated clockwise by means of thesetting knob 6 if the engagement between the locking member 18 and therecess 19 is neutralized through pulling on the setting knob 6, 'that isto say, by moving the inner hollow shaft 5" outwardly through axialdisplacement. Following a rotation by 360 during which the bent ends 12of the spring 11 skip over the teeth of the sawtooth ring 13 and runahead of the rotary motion of the minute wheel 14 provided by the watchmovement, the rest position is attained again in which the time intervalhand 2 is automatically'disengaged as a result of the means describedFollowi ng the pulling outward of the setting knob 6, the time intervalhand can be manually turned into any desired angular position and isimmediately positively taken along from that position by the watchmovement. 1

To permit setting the time of day by means of the hands 3 and 4, theattachment between the middle hollow shaft 5" and the minute wheel 14 isdesigned in customary fashion in such a way that a slip clutch isprovided between the pinion 20 twist-resistantly mounted on the middlehollow shaft 5" and the minute gear wheel 14 whose friction contact canbe neutralized by setting means (not shown). The pinion 20 mates with alarger toothed wheel 22 driving the hour gear wheel 24 fixed on theouter hollow shaft 5' via a smaller toothed wheel 23 in a mannercustomary with such watch movements. The wheels 22 and 23 are mountedrotatably and axially undisplaceably on a bearing bolt 25. A metallicsupport plate 26 supports the wheels 14, 20 and 24 situated on the shaft5, respectively the outer and middle hollow shafts 5 and 5", counter tothe force of the pressure helical spring 17 and prevents the axialdisplacement of these components.

For the purpose of electrical actuation of a single transmitter in thezero position of the time interval hand 2, a microswitch 27, see FIG. 2,is mounted in the movement housing 8, and its control arm 28 is actuatedby a tongue 29 mounted on the flange 10. Such microswitches can beadjustably provided on the watch casing for setting intermediarypositions, thereby affording optical and/or acoustic signals indicatingthe intermediate positions during the revolution of the time intervalhand 2.

FIG. 3Yalso shows the dial land an annular legend bearing disc 7 which,in this exemplified embodimenni is interchangeably fitted ontoa-projecting crystal 30 abutting against the flange 31 of-the watchcasing.

In the embodiment illustrated, dots are shown on the dial to denotehours, whereas the dial 1 bears the numbers 5, 10 and so on up to 60 forthe time interval hand 2. In lieu of these numbers, other symbols can beused since telling time by the time interval hand is unessential,because time can be read by means of the minute and hour hands. Therotary speed of the time interval hand can be adjusted to the'object ofthe watch and set accordingly.

This novel watch arrangement is suited, in particular, to indicate workcycles to be performed sequentially like those required in cooking.Accordingly, the dial 1 can be surrounded by a legend-bearing disc 7listing the work cycles A, B, C, D, etc. The time interval hand 2 islonger than the radius of the dial 1 so'that its free end 2a projectsbeyond the edge 1a of the dial 1 and rotates 1 position through axialdisplacement into its working position. If it is intended to start withthe work phase A corresponding normally to the rest position of the timeinterval hand 2, that hand need only be axially pushed into itsoperating position.

Interchangeable legend-bearing discs imprinted with different workcycles can be provided for the watch. For that purpose, thelegend-bearing discs are annularly-shaped with a centrall cut-out of thesize of the watch dial 1 and an indentation in the cut-out affordspassage of the free end 2a of the time interval hand 2. A number ofdevices are available for the attachment of the interchangeableindicator dials and can be selected as desired. They can be attached tothe edge 1a of the dial 1, to the watch casing 8,'or at any othersuitable point of the watch. The legend-bearing discs can be providedwith cooking recipes whose sequential work cycles are listedchronometrically around the disc. The time interval hand will thenindicate the respective phase to be initiated and completed for thepreparation of a dish. The combination of the watch and the timeinterval hand is very simple and permits a compact design of the entiredevice, offering simultaneously further combination possibilitiesthrough the use of interchangeable legend-bearing discs.

While a specific embodiment of the invention has been shown anddescribed in detail to illustrate the application of the inventiveprinciples, it will be understood that the invention may be embodiedotherwise without departing from such principles.

What is claimed is:

1. A watch comprising a shaft, a minute hand mounted on said shaft,first means associated with said minute hand for rotating it about saidshaft,'an hour hand mounted on said shaft, second means associated withsaid hour hand for rotating it about said shaft, a dial positionedtransversely of and extending outwardly from said shaft and located sothat said minute and hour hands pass over said dial, a legend-bearingdisc associatedwith said dial, wherein the improvement comprises a timeinterval hand mounted on said shaft ated with said time interval handand mounted on said shaft for axial displacement thereon between a firstposition for positively connecting said time interval hand for rotationwith said minute hand, and a second position for freely rotating saidtime interval hand around the axis of said shaft.

2. A watch, as set forth in claim 1, wherein a casing encloses saidshaft, a crystal mounted in said casing and forming a closure over saidminute hand, second hand and time interval hand, said third hollow shaftextending through said crystal, and a knob mounted on the outer end ofsaid third hollow shaft outwardly from said crystal so that by grippingsaid knob said third hollow shaft can be axially displaced forselectively setting said time interval hand.

3. A watch, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said legend-bearing disc isan annular member having a central opening and said annular member isdisposed outwardly about the circumferential edge of said dial, and saidtime interval hand extends radially outwardly from said shaft with itsfree end located outwardly from the circumferential edge of said dial sothat it passes over said legend-bearing disc.

4. A watch, as set forth in claim 3, wherein said leencloses said shaftand supports said dial and said legend-bearing disc, a locking memberpositioned on said casing for providing locking engagement with said le-6 gend bearing disc.

means comprises a minute hand gear wheel mounted on said shaft, and asawtooth ring secured to said minute hand gear wheel, said third meanscomprises a first spring axially displaceable on said shaft andengageable with said sawtooth for rotation of said time interval handwith said minute hand. I

8. A watch, as set forth in claim 7, wherein said shaft comprises afirst hollow shaft supporting said second means, a second hollow shaftcoaxial with and positioned within said first hollow shaft andsupporting said first means, a third hollow shaft coaxial with andpositioned within said second hollow shaft and supporting said thirdmeans, and a bearing pin extending into one end of and supporting saidthird hollow shaft so that it is axially displaceable on said bearingpin.

9. A watch, as set forth in claim 8, wherein a flange is secured to andextends outwardly from the end of said third hollow shaft mounted onsaid bearing pin,- said first spring is Z-shaped and is mounted on saidflange, said third means includes a locking member secured to saidflange and engageable with said bearing pin for locking said timeinterval hand in the firstposition and being movable into an unlockedposition, and a second spring positioned between said first spring andsaid minute hand gear wheel for biasing said time interval hand into thesecond position when said locking member is in the unlocked position.

10. A watch, as set forth in claim 9, including a signal transmitter, amember secured to said flange and displaceable into the path of saidsignal transmitter for providing a signal when a predetermined positionof.

said time interval hand has been reached.

* l l =l

1. A watch comprising a shaft, a minute hand mounted on said shaft,first means associated with said minute hand for rotating it about saidshaft, an hour hand mounted on said shaft, second means associated withsaid hour hand for rotating it about said shaft, a dial positionedtransversely of and extending outwardly from said shaft and located sothat said minute and hour hands pass over said dial, a legend-bearingdisc associated with said dial, wherein the improvement comprises a timeinterval hand mounted on said shaft and arranged to pass over said dial,third means associated with said time interval hand and mounted on saidshaft for axial displacement thereon between a first position forpositively connecting said time interval hand for rotation with saidminute hand, and a second position for freely rotating said timeinterval hand around the axis of said shaft.
 2. A watch, as set forth inclaim 1, wherein a casing encloses said shaft, a crystal mounted in saidcasing and forming a closure over said minute hand, second hand and timeinterval hand, said third hollow shaft extending through said crystal,and a knob mounted on the outer end of said third hollow shaft outwardlyfrom said crystal so that by gripping said knob said third hollow shaftcan be axially displaced for selectively setting said time intervalhand.
 3. A watch, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said legend-bearingdisc is an annular member having a central opening and said annularmember is disposed outwardly about the circumferential edge of saiddial, and said time interval hand extends radially outwardly from saidshaft with its free end locateD outwardly from the circumferential edgeof said dial so that it passes over said legend-bearing disc.
 4. Awatch, as set forth in claim 3, wherein said legend-bearing disc isinterchangeably mounted about said dial and the diameter of its centralopening corresponds substantially to the diameter of the circumferentialedge of said dial.
 5. A watch, as set forth in claim 4, wherein saiddial has a locking member on its circumferential edge for providinglocking engagement with said legend-bearing disc.
 6. A watch, as setforth in claim 4, wherein a casing encloses said shaft and supports saiddial and said legend-bearing disc, a locking member positioned on saidcasing for providing locking engagement with said legend-bearing disc.7. A watch, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said first means comprisesa minute hand gear wheel mounted on said shaft, and a sawtooth ringsecured to said minute hand gear wheel, said third means comprises afirst spring axially displaceable on said shaft and engageable with saidsawtooth for rotation of said time interval hand with said minute hand.8. A watch, as set forth in claim 7, wherein said shaft comprises afirst hollow shaft supporting said second means, a second hollow shaftcoaxial with and positioned within said first hollow shaft andsupporting said first means, a third hollow shaft coaxial with andpositioned within said second hollow shaft and supporting said thirdmeans, and a bearing pin extending into one end of and supporting saidthird hollow shaft so that it is axially displaceable on said bearingpin.
 9. A watch, as set forth in claim 8, wherein a flange is secured toand extends outwardly from the end of said third hollow shaft mounted onsaid bearing pin, said first spring is Z-shaped and is mounted on saidflange, said third means includes a locking member secured to saidflange and engageable with said bearing pin for locking said timeinterval hand in the first position and being movable into an unlockedposition, and a second spring positioned between said first spring andsaid minute hand gear wheel for biasing said time interval hand into thesecond position when said locking member is in the unlocked position.10. A watch, as set forth in claim 9, including a signal transmitter, amember secured to said flange and displaceable into the path of saidsignal transmitter for providing a signal when a predetermined positionof said time interval hand has been reached.